Berry Blast Off recipe contest

From a pool of 187 recipe submissions came five semi-finalists who faced off in the culinary showdown Berry Blast Off Tuesday at in Oxnard. In the lead up to the 30th Strawberry Festival, two finalists emerged victorious from the kitchen.

KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/THE STAR Winona Krieger wraps up her hour of producing the Strawberry Brulee that put her in the top two spots out of 187 entrants for the Berry Blast Off in Oxnard on Tuesday. The recipe competition was held in preparation for this year’s 30th anniversary of the California Strawberry Festival.

Karen Quincy Loberg

KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/THE STAR Larissa Nelson’s Strawberry Coconut No-Bake Tiramisu is ready for the judges during the Berry Blast Off competition Tuesday in Oxnard. The recipe competition was held in preparation for this year’s 30th anniversary of the California Strawberry Festival.

KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/THE STAR Tony Murguia judges the Strawberry Brulee made Tuesday by Winona Krieger in the Berry Blast Off in Oxnard.

KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/THE STAR Winona Krieger gets a congratulatory pat on the shoulder from Lisa Carey with the Strawberry Festival after an hour of multi-tasking to create the Strawberry Brulee that put her in one of the top two spots for the Berry Blast Off.